“United States officials were surprised and heartened today at the size of turnout in South Vietnam’s presidential election despite a Vietcong terrorist campaign to disrupt the voting. According to reports from Saigon, 83 percent of the 5.85 million registered voters cast their ballots yesterday. Many of them risked reprisals threatened by the Vietcong. A successful election has long been seen as the keystone in President Johnson’s policy of encouraging the growth of constitutional processes in South Vietnam.”
- Peter Grose, in a page 2 New York Times article titled, ‘U.S. Encouraged by Vietnam Vote,’ September 4, 1967.
2 comments:
good one. I'm intrigued by the current radio silence of Bush-bashers. Ever since his state of the union address and the Iraqi election, everyone's gone quiet. Some people are secretly thinking, 'maybe Iraq will end ok after all'. French and German diplomats were on the radio this morning going on about how dubya and condoleeza are 'friends' with whom they'd had a little difference of opinion. Even you, Tom, have been a bit quiet in recent days. What a relief, then, for this post.
I know, I know. Grouching about Bush and co just seems so obvious and futile right now. Whatever happens, they're going to be there for 4 years. Is there anything left to say? Political comment, ethical outrage, evidence-based criticism, investigative journalism, satire... I feel we've exhausted them all now. We just have to sit and watch the disaster unfold.
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